Orlando City has completed two massive trades to bulk up the core of its inaugural Major League Soccer roster ahead of Wednesday’s expansion draft.

The Lions have acquired defender Aurélien Collin from Sporting Kansas City and defensive center midfielder Amobi Okugo from the Philadelphia Union, according to a source with direct knowledge of the deal. The moves give Orlando City two high-end quality starters with MLS experience to bolster a team as yet devoid of that quality.

According to the source, Orlando City sent Sporting allocation money and future considerations for Collin and allocation money and a second round pick in the 2016 SuperDraft for Okugo.

Orlando City has also acquired a two-year international roster spot from D.C. United in exchange for allocation money, the source said.

Multiple outlets reported the Okugo trade late Sunday night. Ives Galarcep reported Orlando City was sending $100,000 in allocation money to Philadelphia in the deal.

Both Collin and Okugo have agreed to new deals with Orlando City. While details of those deals have not been disclosed, neither player will be a designated player for the Lions.

Collin is a three-time MLS All-Star and two-time MLS Best XI selection and will immediately be slotted in as a starting centerback that solidifies Orlando City’s back line. The Sporting Kansas City star has started 103 of 107 career regular season games and 10 playoff games in MLS over four seasons, scoring 11 goals with two assists and establishing himself as one of the league’s most influential central defenders.

The Frenchman also has championship experience, winning MLS Cup with Sporting in 2013 and being named 2013 MLS Cup MVP after scoring the equalizer and converting the game-winning penalty against Real Salt Lake.

Okugo will fit in perfectly to Orlando City’s 4-2-3-1 formation in one of two defensive central midfield roles. The midfielder is just 23 years old but has played five seasons with the Union, starting 101 of 117 league games since being drafted No. 6 overall as a Generation Adidas signee out of UCLA in 2010.

The former U.S. youth national team stalwart has five career goals and six assists, and was considered a key piece and fan favorite in Philadelphia. Okugo has the ability to play centerback, as well.

Per reports, Okugo considered leaving for Europe, but it appears Orlando City was able to swoop in to convince him to remain in MLS.

The club also made official the deal for goalkeeper Tally Hall, who will join Orlando City from the Houston Dynamo. Orlando City sent allocation money and a two-year international roster spot to Houston for Hall.

Mariners starter fans 8, walks none in 8 shutout innings

SEATTLE — The arrival of the Taijuan Walker the Mariners have been waiting to see came on the perfect night.

The starting staff was already reeling from the prolonged absence of No. 3 man Hisashi Iwakuma (lat strain) and Friday afternoon came the news that No. 2 starter James Paxtonwill be out for an unknown period of time with a strained tendon in the middle finger of his pitching hand. With Walker coming off two starts in which he gave up a total of eight earned runs on 13 hits in 9 1/3 innings, Seattle needed the young and talented right-hander to live up to his monstrous potential.

He did it, and he did it fast. Walker worked quickly and with conviction and ended up pitching a career high-tying eight innings against the Indians. He didn’t allow a run, tied his career best with eight strikeouts, matched stellar Indians starter Trevor Bauer pitch for pitch and earned what turned out to be a a 2-1 victory that got the Mariners back to .500 at 24-24.

“Tonight was one of those starts that shows you a glimpse of the future,” Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said.

In some ways, however, it was a glimpse of the recent past — as in, Spring Training. Walker won the fifth spot in the rotation with a brilliant March in Arizona, beating out Roenis Elias, who has since performed admirably as the replacement for Iwakuma. The growing pains early this season have been evident and not entirely unexpected for a 22-year-old with a fastball that reaches 97 mph, but he said he was able to channel a little bit of that Cactus League feel on Friday night.

“I felt like in Spring Training I was in a rhythm, so today was trying to get back in that rhythm, and it felt really good,” said Walker, who improved his home ERA to 2.22 and didn’t get to a single three-ball count.

“I know he came in having some troubles, but there was so much life to that fastball,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “It was a dominant fastball. Even when he probably threw it four out of five pitches, it was beating us for the most part. … There wasn’t a whole lot going on. A lot of it’s because of the way that kid threw.”

It was also because of the Mariners’ defense. Walker was aided by a spectacular play by second baseman Willie Bloomquist on a far-ranging snag of a ground ball and across-the-body throw to end the sixth, and left fielder Dustin Ackley hauled in a long Michael Brantleyfly ball with a lunging catch at the wall in the seventh.

He needed all that to keep up with the Indians the way Bauer was throwing, although he said the intensity of the tight game made it even more fun.

“You kind of want to outpitch the other pitcher, but at the same time you have to stay focused and pitch your game,” Walker said.

The Mariners hope that game becomes the norm for Walker as the season wears on.

“It was a tremendous outing,” McClendon said. “Something to really build on for his next start.”

Doug Miller is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @DougMillerMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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The Double Coverage Camp for a Cure will be taking place in Fort Lauderdale on May 18th. Location will be named very soon. The camp is to promote breast cancer research and healthy living for women. The camp will be 7on7 style and teams will be coached by NFL coaches. Part of proceeds will also go to Susan G Komen. We think this camp will be a great opportunity for women to promote healthy living and get informed while also playing and learning football from the best. Applications will be available starting next week and it’s $20 to participate must be 18 or older and $10 to just come and watch. Anyone interested in participating or helping in any way can email info@doublecoveragepr.com.

Larry Asante, veteran defensive back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be hosting his 2nd annual Faith & Football Camp to help the youth come to know the Lord Jesus Christ and to also help develop agilities and fundamentals in the area of football.

The 3-day camp will take place at Dacula High School, which is located at 123 Broad Street, Dacula, GA 30019. The camp will include several NFL players, coaches and pastors, and will conclude on Sunday with an autograph signing.

” Soccer player CJ Sapong stands at a very handsome 6’1, is finishing up a successful first professional season with US Soccer Team ‘Sporting Kansas City’ and is refreshingly kind. With his country boy charm, he hails from Virginia, Sapong broke down what it takes to be at the top of his game and why soccer is anything but a second rate sport….”

With the 10th pick of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, the newly renamed Sporting Kansas City selected James Madison University striker C.J. Sapong long before anyone else expected him to go. Sapong thanked everybody he needed to thank, then turned to the Sporting table and barked “Let’s do this!” An unusual thing to do for an unusual pick.